My computer has been holding me hostage

Last mid-week I visited my sister in a small rural town for a few days. We enjoyed visiting with her women friends at her house for a potluck dinner. My sister and I walked through a local forest munching a snack of woodland sorrel and the first ripe salmon berries as we smelled the fresh ferns, and viewed the straggly moss hanging off the vibrant green trees and crumbling nurse logs. We took her small perky dog to a field and my sister combed out copious amounts of the dogs winter undercoat to take off the weight/warmth for spring, allowing the fur to blow through the field to be picked up by birds for their nests. We went to a local teashop for sandwiches, tea and brainstorming. When my sister was at work I journaled, read, and took a hot bath in the quiet privacy of her home. It was bliss. One thing I didn’t do was go online, as my sister’s home has no TV, computer or Internet.

At my sister’s I had time to think, to do, to create… a different think/do/create than is available sitting at my computer screen. So I decided when I got home I’d take a break from the Internet and computer in my own home over the weekend. My usual work pattern is to be on the computer from morning until late into the evening doing research, making lists, writing articles, reading emails, answering emails, posting articles, maintaining web sites, and spending way too much time on facebook.

The results? I felt more refreshed not only through the weekend, but also my workweek itself has been more relaxed and creative as I’m limiting my computer research, news reading, and facebooking. I’ve spent more time out in the garden this week, and as such I’ve done more eating from the garden: fresh sorrel, Johnny jump-up flowers (they’ve got a slightly minty taste and go great in salads and for garnish on deviled eggs), and harvesting and drying sage, spearmint, and lemon balm for cooking and teas. In past years I’ve neglected my garden to work on the computer, and by the time I wandered outside much of the spring harvest was only good for the chickens (which creates good eggs, but still it would be nice for us people to enjoy some of the produce when it’s ripe).

I think I’m going to continue spending less time at the computer and more time doing other things, like sleeping, journaling, thinking, or reading. More time sitting in the garden watching the chickens, and munching on whatever is ripe. More time relaxing and enjoying, and less time working and striving.